826 Valencia

826 Valencia is a pirate supply shop. For all you marauders of the 7 seas, this is the place for all your 'faring needs. Eye patches, lard, boots, frilly shirts, compasses… oh, and the back room happens to be a free writing workshop for under 18 year old kids run by Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius author, Dave Eggers. McSweeny's Quarterly literary journal is published upstairs. The first time you visit, plan on spending an unrushed hours looking through bins and drawers and discovering the surprises hidden about the place. The fish tank viewing area is ideal for sharing contemplative moments with loved ones. more

When you shop at 826 Valencia, you're helping a great cause! 826 Valencia was created by a best-selling writer. He wanted to give something back to his Mission neighborhood when his book did well. So he used the funds to start writing programs for children. Kids can go to 826 Valencia and get help with their homework, SAT prep, take classes in writing, learn how to apply to a college and much more. What funds the classes is a pirate store! ...and this pirate store is like no place you've ever seen!! The interior of 826 Valencia is dark wood with large beams that resembles the interior of an old wooden ship. At first glance their appears to be very few items for sale, but first appearances can be deceiving! Soon it becomes apparent that the wooden walls are filled with doors, cupboards and drawers. There are even trap doors in the floor! At 826 Valencia, you have to be a pirate and hunt for your treasures! That is what is so fun about it. You never know if a drawer is hiding a jeweled box or a dish full of eyeballs! The neighborhood kids often get to play tricks on the customers. Hidden high in the beams of the ceiling is a box full of soft, fluffy mop heads. When an unsuspecting customer steps in just the right place... the kids pull a cord and the mops drop from the ceiling onto their unsuspecting victims! (they got me twice!!) Visit 826 Valencia and plunder their pirate booty matey! ARRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! more

I love 826 Valencia. The pet project of writer Dave Eggers, it is a pirate store, reading work-shop place rolled into one. You can pick up the latest from McSweeney's Press and an eye patch or peg leg all at the same time. If you have kids, they offer work-shops for lots of different things with an emphasis on writing. My son has taken three different sessions where they wrote a play and then performed. Take the kids, there are tons of gimmicky pirate gear. more